New Simulator Improves Inland Waterway Training

BMT ARGOSS a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd., has developed a specialized version of its REMBRANDT simulation and training tool for use in scenarios involving inland waterways.

Developed to support control systems and navigation charts used by vessels working on inland waterways, BMT describes REMBRANDT-INLAND as an accurate, capable and flexible alternative to Full Mission Bridge (FMB) marine simulators, delivering equivalent functionality at a lower price point. 

REMBRANDT allows the user to load any port, river or canal and utilizes high fidelity vessel models that include more than 750 parameters, aiming to ensure that the user experiences identical vessel to vessel interaction, vessel to bank interaction, squat and shallow water effects as the real vessel would in the same conditions. Simulations can be replayed in video format with track plots and data information printed or saved electronically, providing an opportunity to analyze the vessel performance. REMBRANDT-INLAND also features enhanced current and wind settings and can provide Client Server, a multi-user mode which enables multiple vessels to operate in a single operational scenario; each with independent human control.

REMBRANDT-INLAND can be used to accurately reconstruct specific incidents involving collisions in order to identify the root cause and any lessons that can be learned. The simulation uses shipboard data and radar images combined with high fidelity ship models, to produce three-dimensional simulations. Voice, radar and position data sets are automatically synchronized, together with environmental data and navigational circumstances, to present a complete and seamless reconstruction of events for in-depth analysis. 

BMT’s collision reconstruction team, which includes experienced master mariners, chief engineers, navigation and hydrodynamic modelers and weather experts, has the skills, depth of inland waterway knowledge and technology to reconstruct incidents using a visual format and readily understandable process.

REMBRANDT-INLAND also provides unparalleled visual simulation of proposed new infrastructure. BMT ARGOSS recently provided such a simulation as part of the public consultation into development of the ports of Spijk and Tuindorp in the municipality Rijnwaarden, Holland.

 “I am delighted at the initial user feedback for this specialized version of the REMBRANDT maneuvering simulator,” commented Paul Morter, Business Line Manager for REMBRANDT. “It will enable us to deliver high quality simulations and incident investigations to the Inland Waterway market.” 

“Having this market focused version of REMBRANDT available to support the specialized requirements of inland waterways – whether for development or investigative purposes will allow BMT ARGOSS to provide a valuable input to a wide variety of projects,” said Hans Veldman, ARGOSS’s inland waterways consultant.

REMBRANDT-INLAND is currently being used as part of BMT ARGOSS’s consultancy offering and will be available to purchase later in 2015.